Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical advice, and its causes range from benign and self-limiting to serious and requiring urgent treatment. The location, character, and associated symptoms of the pain are the most important clues to the underlying cause.
| Location | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Right upper quadrant | Gallstones, cholecystitis, liver disease, right kidney stone |
| Left upper quadrant | Splenomegaly, left kidney stone, gastric pathology |
| Right lower quadrant | Appendicitis, ovarian cyst (women), inguinal hernia |
| Left lower quadrant | Diverticulitis, ovarian cyst (women), inguinal hernia |
| Central/periumbilical | Early appendicitis, small bowel pathology, aortic aneurysm |
| Diffuse | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peritonitis, generalised bowel pathology |
| Loin to groin (colicky) | Ureteric stone |
You should seek investigation if your abdominal pain:
Seek emergency care immediately if your abdominal pain is sudden and severe, is associated with a rigid or board-like abdomen, or is accompanied by collapse, vomiting blood, or rectal bleeding.
For most causes of abdominal pain, an ultrasound scan is the appropriate first investigation. It is radiation-free, available same-day at Sonoworld, and can identify the most common structural causes of abdominal pain.
Right upper quadrant pain after eating is one of the most common presentations we see. In the majority of cases, the ultrasound identifies gallstones — often multiple and small — that the patient has had for years without knowing. The scan takes 30 minutes and provides an immediate answer, allowing the patient to have an informed conversation with their GP or surgeon about management options rather than waiting weeks for an NHS scan.
Ultrasound can sometimes visualise an inflamed appendix, but it is not the most reliable test for appendicitis. If appendicitis is suspected, you should attend A&E for assessment — do not wait for a private scan.
Ultrasound is not the primary investigation for bowel cancer. It can identify secondary effects (liver metastases, bowel wall thickening) but colonoscopy is the gold-standard investigation for suspected colorectal cancer.
No. You can book directly at Sonoworld. If your scan identifies a finding that requires urgent follow-up, the report will include a clear recommendation.
Sonoworld is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our sonographers are registered with HCPC and are members of BMUS. All scans are performed at our Marylebone clinic: 29 Weymouth Street, London W1G 7DB.
Same-day and next-day appointments available at our Marylebone clinic. Instant verbal results. Written report within 24 hours. No GP referral required.
Price: £235
Or call us on 020 7486 1991
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